Teaching Assistant EPSC and ESYS

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Hiring Unit:

Earth and Planetary Sciences

Course Title and Course Number:

EPSC 185 Natural Disasters

EPSC 210 Introduction to Mineralogy

EPSC 220 Principles of Geochemistry

EPSC 221 General Geology

EPSC 233 Earth and Life History

EPSC 240 Geology In The Field

EPSC 320 Elementary Earth Physics

ESPC 445 Metamorphic Geology

EPSC 452 Mineral Deposits

EPSC 570 Cosmochemistry

ESYS 500 Earth System Applications

Estimated Number of Positions:

33

Total Hours of Work per Term:

80

Must be registered in a graduate program at McGill University. Priority will be given to students enrolled in a graduate program in  Earth and Planetary Sciences at McGill University.

Hourly Salary:

According to the collective agreement

Position Start Date:

2024-08-28

Position End Date:

2024-12-10

Deadline to Apply:

2024-06-21

EPSC 185 Natural Disasters

Position Summary
• Maintain office hours
• Keep tutorial hours
• Prepare and mark assignments
• Work with a group of students, serving as their mentor
• Logistics for assignments (recording grades, returning assignments)
Note: TAs may be required to perform some or all of the duties online.
Qualifications
• Knowledge of the course subject and material.
• Must be organized and approachable.
• Ability to deal directly with divers’ range of people.

EPSC 210 Introduction to Mineralogy

Position Summary
Under the general supervision of course instructor:
• set up material (specimens, microscopes) for weekly lab exercises
• return teaching material to storage after labs
• answer student questions during laboratory exercises
• grade lab reports and provide feedback via MyCourses
Qualifications
• B.Sc. degree. 
• Enrollment in Earth & Planetary Sciences M.Sc. or Ph.D. graduate program. 
• Ability to deal in person with students of diverse backgrounds. 
• Familiarity with physical properties used for macroscopic mineral identification
• Experienced in transmitted-light polarizing microscopy (birefringence, optical figures used in mineral identification)

EPSC 220 Principles of Geochemistry

Position Summary
Under the general supervision of course instructor; 
• Prepares course material (including laboratory preparation if applicable).
• Performs grading and maintains grading records. 
• Assists with tutoring in and out of lab.  
• Performs related duties.
Qualifications
• B.Sc. degree. 
• Enrollment in Earth & Planetary Sciences M.Sc. or Ph.D. graduate program.
• Must be organized and approachable.
• Ability to deal effectively with diverse range of people. 
• Must have demonstrated knowledge in equilibrium thermodynamics and kinetics applied to high- and low-temperature geological systems as covered in chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9, in the book Geochemistry by W.M. White and published by Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, in 2013.
• Must have at least basic knowledge of Matlab.

EPSC 221 General Geology

Position Summary
• Lead lab demonstrations
• Grade
• Hold office hours
• Answer student questions
• Invigilate exams
• Assist course lecturer
• In-person lab attendance required
• May include occasional lecturing
Qualifications
• Basic geology background (BSc Geology)
• Strong communication skills
• Strong organisation skills

EPSC 233 Earth and Life History

Position Summary
• Attend lectures
• Hold weekly office hours
• Respond to student enquiries
• Grade quizzes and exams
Qualifications
• Knowledge of introductory geology
• Familiarity with the geological time scale and Earth and life history

EPSC 240 Geology In The Field

Position Summary
• Lead lab demonstrations,

• Grade,

• Hold office hours,

• Answer student questions,

• Participate in short field trips within the Montreal area.

• In-person class attendance required.
Qualifications
Basic field geology skills such as how use a Brunton compass, how to read a map. Entry level Geology knowledge.

EPSC 320 Elementary Earth Physics

Position Summary
• The TA will hold weekly office hours,

• Respond to student questions,

• Lead tutorial sessions,

• Grade homework assignments

• Assist the course instructor in course logistics.
Qualifications
Teaching Assistant should have a degree in Earth Sciences or similar fields with knowledge of solid Earth geophysics, including basic theories of geophysical methods and their applications and knowledge of Matlab or an equivalent computing language.

ESPC 445 Metamorphic Geology

Position Summary
• Assist the course instructor in course logistics and laboratory preparation
• Lead laboratory sessions
• Respond to student questions
• Review, comment and grade laboratory reports
Qualifications
The teaching assistant needs to be:
• An expert user of the petrographic microscope and able to explain and train students in its use, including in PPL, XPL and conoscopic microscopy
• Be able to identify the common metamorphic minerals in hand specimen and thin section
• Have a general understanding of (metamorphic) phase diagrams, ACF, AKF and AFM ternaries and geothermobarometry and be able to explain these to students
• Have a thorough understanding of chemical thermodynamics and ideally experience with using thermodynamic modelling software.

EPSC 452 Mineral Deposits

Position Summary
• assist the course instructor with course logistics (e.g. exam invigilation)
• set up material (specimens, microscopes) for weekly lab exercises
• keep teaching material organized between and after labs
• answer student questions on laboratory exercises and assignments
• grade and comment lab reports, maintain lab grading records
Qualifications
Knowledge of ore minerals and fundamentals of ore-forming processes. Demonstrated knowledge of mineral identification and petrographic descriptions in transmitted-light and reflected-light microscopy.

EPSC 570 Cosmochemistry

Position Summary

• Attend lectures and participate (perhaps lead) discussions

• Hold weekly office hours

• Respond to student enquiries

• Grade assignments, exams, and term papers

Qualifications

Knowledge of Earth Science or Astronomy, preferably both, at the undergraduate level

ESYS 500 Earth System Applications

Position Summary

• Attend classes.

• Help students with multiple aspects of research projects during class, as well as engaging with them outside of class.

• Provide logistical support to field and laboratory work as required.

• Grade written work and organize feedback among students.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of multiple aspects of Earth system science.

• Familiarity with data science / coding required (e.g. Matlab, python, GIS software)

• Additional experience in laboratory and/or field work would be an asset.

• At least 2 years experience as a graduate student.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures . Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected] .

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.